Sources of Health
Insurance and Characteristics of the Uninsured

New England States, 1997

Maine

 The percentage of Maine's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997 was 17.1 percent. This is lower than the
national rate of 18.3 percent. Maine's nonelderly population also
had a higher rate of private coverage, 73.5 percent, than the
national rate of 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Maineinfants through age
17had a higher rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 65.5 percent, than the national rate, 59.7 percent. The
uninsured rate for children in Maine, 14.8 percent in 1997, was
below the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes just below the
federal poverty level were the most likely to be uninsured, 29.6
percent, and children in families with incomes at 400 percent or
more of the federal poverty level were least likely, 8.1 percent.

 Maine workers had a slightly higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 72.4 percent, than
the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 51.8 percent of Maine workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name
(meaning they were the primary beneficiary), compared with 55.0
percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely to provide coverage than
smaller firms: 64.2 percent of Maine workers in firms with 1,000
or more employees had coverage in their own name, compared with
19.7 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

 Among Maine workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
manufacturing, 73.1 percent, and government, 68.3 percent.
Workers in government had the lowest uninsured rate in the state,
6.1 percent, followed by agriculture/mining workers at 7.8
percent. Workers who were self-employed and worked in
construction industries had the highest uninsured rates in the
state, 31.1 percent each.

 The percentage of New Hampshire's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997, 13.4 percent, was lower than the national rate
of 18.3 percent. New Hampshire's nonelderly population also had a
higher rate of private coverage, 78.4 percent, than the national
rate of 70.9 percent.

 Children living in New Hampshireinfants through
age 17had a higher rate of employment-based health
insurance coverage, 69.8 percent, than the national rate, 59.7
percent. The uninsured rate for children in New Hampshire, 9.9
percent in 1997, was also below the national rate of 15.0
percent.

 Children living in families with incomes at 150 to 199
percent of the federal poverty level were the most likely to be
uninsured, 26.2 percent. Children in families with incomes at 400
percent or more of the federal poverty level were least likely to
be uninsured, 1.4 percent.

 A higher rate of New Hampshire workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage, 77.2 percent, than
the national rate of 72.2 percent. Also, 53.7 percent of New
Hampshire workers had employment-based health insurance coverage
in their own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiary),
compared with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage. Among New Hampshire workers in firms with 1,000
or more employees, 61.8 percent had coverage in their own name,
compared with 26.4 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among New Hampshire workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
the finance, insurance, and real estate, 75.3 percent, and in
manufacturing, 72.8 percent. Workers in government had the lowest
uninsured rate in the state, 5.7 percent, followed by those in
manufacturing, 6.8 percent. Workers in agriculture/mining and
wholesale/retail trade had the highest uninsured rate in the
state at 36.0 percent and 28.1 percent, respectively.

 The percentage of Vermont's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997, 10.8 percent, was lower than the national rate,
18.3 percent. Vermont's nonelderly population also had a higher
rate of private coverage, 76.0 percent, than the national rate,
70.9 percent.

 Children living in Vermontinfants through age
17had a higher rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 64.4 percent, than the national rate of 59.7 percent.
The uninsured rate for children in Vermont, 5.4 percent in 1997,
was below the national rate, 15.0 percent. Wisconsin and Hawaii
had lower uninsured rates for children than Vermont, at 4.8
percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.

 Children living in families with incomes at 400 percent
or more of the federal poverty level were the most likely to be
uninsured, 9.6 percent. Children in families with incomes at 150
percent to 199 percent of the federal poverty level were least
likely to be uninsured, less than 1 percent.

 Vermont workers had a lower rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 69.5 percent, than the nation, 72.2
percent. Also, 49.5 percent of Vermont workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name
(meaning they were the primary beneficiary), compared with 55.0
percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely to provide coverage than
smaller firms. Among Vermont workers in firms with 1,000 or more
employees, 69.8 percent had coverage in their own name, compared
with 14.7 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Vermont workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance in their own name were those in
finance, insurance, and real estate, 76.0 percent, and
manufacturing, 71.9 percent. Workers in finance, insurance, and
real estate and in manufacturing had the lowest uninsured rate in
the state, 5.2 percent each. The highest uninsured rates in the
state were among workers in construction, 30.5 percent, and
agriculture/mining, 29.7 percent.

 The percentage of Massachusetts'
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997, 14.3 percent, was lower than the national rate,
18.3 percent. Massachusetts' nonelderly population also had a
higher rate of private coverage, 74.2 percent, than the national
rate, 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Massachusettsinfants through
age 17had a higher rate of employment-based health
insurance coverage, 62.0 percent, than the national rate, 59.7
percent. The uninsured rate for children in Massachusetts, 8.3
percent in 1997, was below the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes of 150 percent
to 199 percent of the federal poverty level were the most likely
to be uninsured, 19.9 percent. Children in families with incomes
of 400 percent or more of the federal poverty level were least
likely to be uninsured, 4.4 percent.

 Massachusetts workers had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 76.4 percent, than
the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 55.8 percent of Massachusetts
workers had employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiary), compared
with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage. Among Massachusetts workers in firms with 1,000
or more employees, 69.6 percent had coverage in their own name,
compared with 24.8 percent of those in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Among Massachusetts workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name were
those in finance, insurance, and real estate, 76.1 percent, and
manufacturing, 72.7 percent. Finance, insurance, and real estate
workers had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 6.5 percent,
followed by workers in government, 8.7 percent. Workers in
agriculture/mining and construction had the highest uninsured
rate in the state at 34.0 percent and 30.5 percent, respectively.

 The percentage of Rhode Island's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997, 12.3 percent, was lower than the national rate,
18.3 percent. Rhode Island's nonelderly population also had a
higher rate of private coverage, 75.7 percent, than the national
rate, 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Rhode Islandinfants through
age 17had a higher rate of employment-based health
insurance coverage, 67.1 percent, than the national rate, 59.7
percent. The uninsured rate for children in Rhode Island, 7.9
percent in 1997, was below the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes below the
federal poverty level were the most likely to be uninsured, 26.4
percent. Children in families with incomes at 200 percent to 399
percent of the federal poverty level were least likely to be
uninsured, less than 1 percent.

 Rhode Island workers had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 76.1 percent, than
the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 55.4 percent of Rhode Island
workers had employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiary), compared
with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage. Among Rhode Island's workers in firms with
1,000 or more employees, 70.4 percent had coverage in their own
name, compared with 23.7 percent of workers in firms with fewer
than 10 employees.

 Among Rhode Island workers, the most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name were
those in transportation, communications, and utilities, 91.9
percent, and government, 78.5 percent. Workers in government had
the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 5.3 percent, followed by
those in transportation, communications, and utilities, 8.1
percent. Workers in construction and agriculture/mining had the
highest uninsured rate in the state, at 36.7 percent and 24.3
percent, respectively.

 The percentage of Connecticut's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1997, 13.8 percent, was lower than the national rate,
18.3 percent. Connecticut's nonelderly population also had a
higher rate of private coverage, 79.1 percent, than the national
rate, 70.9 percent.

 Children living in Connecticutinfants through age
17had a higher rate of employment-based health insurance
coverage, 75.1 percent, than the national rate, 59.7 percent.
Only Wisconsin had a higher rate of employment-based health
insurance coverage for children at 81.1 percent. The uninsured
rate for children in Connecticut, 10.9 percent in 1997, was below
the national rate, 15.0 percent.

 Children living in families with incomes below the
federal poverty level were the most likely to be uninsured, 41.6
percent. Children in families with incomes at 400 percent or more
of the federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
5.1 percent.

 Connecticut workers had a slightly higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 78.9 percent, than
the nation, 72.2 percent. Also, 55.6 percent of Connecticut
workers had employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiary), compared
with 55.0 percent for the nation.

 Larger firms were more likely than smaller firms to
provide coverage. Among Connecticut workers in firms with 1,000
or more employees, 73.3 percent had coverage in their own name,
compared with 19.1 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

 Connecticut workers most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name were
those in transportation, communications, and utilities, 79.4
percent, and government, 78.5 percent. Workers in government also
had the lowest uninsured in the state, 5.7 percent, followed by
transportation, communications, and utilities workers at 10.4
percent. Workers in construction and wholesale/retail trade had
the highest uninsured rate in the state, at 25.3 percent and 20.2
percent, respectively.